Friday, June 12, 2009

Three years of blogging!

Before June 12, 2006, I didn't really know all that much about the world of blogging. I had heard of blogs but I didn't know of anyone who blogged. I had my website on which I wrote an article or two, but it was nothing like having a blog. But then Dave Lesniak asked the question "Do Any One Of You Have A Blog?" on the Grace Walk Forum. Within a day or two, this blog was up and running and life has never been the same since! It's been a BLAST getting to know so many wonderful other bloggers and commenters, both on this blog and on many other blogs!

Hi there! Thanks for taking some time to be here. "Grace" is what this is all about - grace that saves and grace that is the power for everything in life. If you've ever felt frustrated in your Christian walk, struggling and striving to get it right but never quite making it - and even knowing you've fallen far short of God's holy standard - then I have good news for you! God's grace certainly is what saves us, but His grace goes far beyond simple forgiveness of sins! God's grace is the power in us, that is not "us," that provides all we need for Christian living. ALL we need! Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" and Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

So if we can do nothing apart from Jesus, and we can do all things through Him, I think that goes to show that we are completely dependent upon HIM, and not our own striving and struggling to make it all work. There is peace and rest in this! As we rest in Him (abide in Him), His very life in us is what animates us and provides the power and energy for all He has called us to do. If it's up to our own personal efforts and struggles, the work produced will amount to nothing more than wood, hay and straw. If it's His life working in and through us, we will have adundant fruit that lasts forever.

So if you're riding the up and down rollercoaster of self-sufficient Christianity, stop fooling yourself and stop being so hard on yourself! You CAN'T do it! You will never do it! Besides, "you" have died - you have been crucified with Christ. Stop trying to bring that old man back to life to work the works he could never do in the first place! Let go and let the life of Christ - which is now your life ("I no longer live but Christ lives in me) - become your sufficiency. God's grace is not added to our efforts. God's grace is not a "part" of our lives. God's grace is the complete power for Christian living, and God's grace is - sufficient!

10 comments:

Congratulations Joel!! You have been a key grace networker!! You have blessed many people's lives with your blog and many lives to come I am sure!!! I have been SO grateful to get to know you through our circle of blogging friends!! Keep up the good work! Your passion for truth is contagious and your grace and kindness are an amazing gift to the world!! May you have many more years of fruitful blogging spreading the amazing 'Good News' of the glorious Gospel of grace and Jesus Christ!!!!

Joel, I’m honored to congratulate you on your anniversary. As you know, you were the one who inspired me to start my own blog over a year and a half ago and I know there are many others who have been inspired and encouraged as you’ve been faithful to share God’s message of grace. Your first post is just as timely and encouraging today as it was then.

Blogging has opened up many exciting doors for me and I’m glad you were ahead of me paving the way. Thanks, little brother. I look forward to many more years of reading and sharing about this incredible journey of grace that we’ve begun.

Thank you for inviting me into this wonderful circle of friends and for all the truth and encouragement you share with us through your blog. Looking forward to our reunion in Ohio in a couple of weeks...

I'm so thankful for this blog! Without it, you encouraged me to continue in the grace of God by shedding a lot of light on a lot of Scriptures. I woke up every morning, reading--no--DEVOURING this blog and sermons on sites like the Grace Project. I believe my roots have grown down and they are continuing to grow into him, drawing up nourishment from him.

Thanks everyone for your love and kindness!!! I continue to be AMAZED at how God has brought people together in the way that He has through the world of blogging. It just seems unreal but yet it's 'real life' people connecting with other real life people in LOVE and GRACE and in HIS Life! I hope and pray along with you all that this type of thing will continue to bless and encourage people in Christ's life for many many years to come.